Mogga for Celtic?

I'm surprised I don't speak in a Glaswegian accent or break out into a 'Donald where's your troosers?' given the number of chats I've had with Scottish contacts recently.

As I write, Tony Mowbray is heading the list of Celtic candidates.

There are other names but for the basis of this write-up let's concentrate on the Albion boss.

So, if he was offered the job, what should he do?

Let's consider why he may leave Albion:

1. Celtic will guarantee European football of some sort. The SPL may be regarded as a footballing wasteland but the exposure of the Champions League would give Mowbray a profile he would never get at The Hawthorns. Celtic play in front of 60,000 home fans and silverware is likely.

2. The former Celtic captain is a legend at Parkhead, not least because of his willingness to play first-team football in-between providing around-the-clock care for his terminally -ill wife. This incredible gesture of dignity, grace and humility has never been forgotten by Celtic fans. (The pre-match 'Huddle' was Mowbray's instinctive reaction in his first match following Bernadette's death. It was the first such huddle of its kind - it's been copied by many since, but never with the poigniancy of its original form)

3. Mowbray and Jeremy Peace are, to be frank, not enjoying the best of relationships at the moment. Only last Thursday, Peace spoke of this season's transfer kitty not always being wisely spent - although he didn't point fingers directly. Twenty four hours later Mowbray was the angriest I've ever seen him during his two-and-a-half-year spell at the club. Several colleagues shared this view. He had just found out that Peace had gone public on the 20-man first-team squad proposal. Although Mowbray isn't necessarily opposed to cutting numbers, as long as its on his terms, it's a plan which doesn't sit comfortably with the Baggies boss. He found time to mention this again in his post-match press conference on Sunday, asking how a squad of 20 would cope with injuries when one of 31 couldn't...

4. Coincidence or not, his weekly briefing with the local media will not be taking place tomorrow. It was cancelled this tea-time. That may have something to do with there being no further games this season but the conspiracist in me does wonder. Bryan Robson's weekly briefing was also called off - about two hours before news broke of his depature.

5. Potentially a better salary and working at one of the biggest names in football, despite the paucity of Celtic's success on the European front over the last 40 years - the club has an incredibly rich tradition and profile. It's one for the CV.

6. Let's say Mowbray was to be offered the Celtic job, rejected it but then had a poor start at Albion next season. We all know that patience tends to wear thin around the time that the clocks go back. That's one hell of a regret Mowbray will have.

And now, let's consider the reasons for staying:

1. He wants to build a long-term future at the club. It's not just managerial tub-thumping - he genuinely has an affection for the club, mainly due to his affinity with the fans. You'll have read about this but, also, privately, he has often been left stunned at the support he's received. Humility is a big thing for Mowbray.

2. The challenge of another promotion and creating an English version of 'Villareal' or 'AZ Alkmaar' at The Hawthorns is one of his aims for Albion. Would winning nine out of 10 games in the SPL pose such a challenge? Definitely not. Surely it could only bore a manager of such fierce ambition.

3. Mowbray has, at times, struggled with some of the more high-profile media scrutiny during his time at B71. At Celtic he will be under immediate pressure - the 'Old Firm media mafia' include camps who are traditionally pro- and anti- Celtic and Rangers, depending on which journalist or newspaper you read. A bad result would soon see references to his relegation at Albion and any weaknesses. It's an unforgiving environment at the best of times. If Mark Lawrenson or Gary Lineker are capable of upsetting him, then what will Glasgow's finest tabloid hacks do to him after a couple of bad results? The Champions League is perhaps deemed more important than the SPL title by Celtic's hierarchy. On that basis, the Parkhead club play arguably their most important match of the campaign in a little under eight weeks time. Lose that and Mowbray will already find himself a marked man.

4. His wife is heavily pregnant with their third child. Uprooting now may not be domestically convenient.

5. This may be the lesser or greater of two evils for Albion fans, but would Mowbray consider restoring Middlesbrough's status at some future point as a greater challenge to leading Celtic to top spot in the SPL? A successful campaign with Albion (or any other English club) could open more doors at the Premier League's big clubs than Celtic ever will.

6. He has previously spoken about the lack of quality on offer in the Scottish Premier League given the benefit of the hindsight he now has following his two-and-a-half-year spell at Albion. Why go back?

So there you have it. Not definitive. And it raises more questions perhaps.

Other names I've heard mentioned are Owen Coyle, Mick McCarthy and Craig Levein. The third one maybe deemed too 'low key' for Celtic, while the first two have just led their two clubs to promotion.

If Coyle was offered the job, however, I wouldn't be surprised to see his head turned. He's no mug - Burnley's main prize will be survival next season. And, before a ball is kicked, they'll be deemed as relegation fodder. Celtic may be an ideal chance.

Mark McGhee was mentioned but looks set for Aberdeen and the usual names of Curbishley, Moyes, Bruce and Hoddle have all been listed. Not sure about any of those.

All of which makes me wonder whether Mowbray will have a tough call to make over the next few days or so. Celtic are looking for a swift appointment due to their Champions League campaign starting in July.

As Mowbray would say, 'let's wait and see...'